need kiln for glass and ceramics
Moderators: Brad Walker, Tony Smith
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elle
need kiln for glass and ceramics
My school is finally adding on a real art room for me and they want me to purchase a kiln. It will even have it's own kiln room!!! Being a glassy, I am only familiar with glass kilns. Currently own a Paragon octaganal one and a coffin even heat with a rampmaster (I love that one!). Checking in my school art catalogs, the only kilns listed are ceramic ones. The Skutt kiln looks that it might fit the bill as it has a feature similar to the rampmaster and says it can fire by cone or temp. I'm thinking that because it has temp setting I can also introduce my students to glass. I really hate to order something that I'm not sure will work with both glass and ceramics and end up hating it (it's not my money that I will be spending and I won't have a second chance.). I am looking for something real easy to use in school. Any suggestions will be greatly appreciated. Also, I need help on venting equipment. Thanks, Elle
You have to look at the operating temperature range of the kiln in addition to the type of controller.
Most glass kilns don't fire higher than 1800 degrees Farinheight which is not hot enough to fire a majority of the ceramic clays/glazes. Additionally they are usually much shallower to allow even heat distribution which is very critical when working with warm glass if you are to get predictable results.
Most ceramic kilns have side firing elements, fire much hotter than glass kilns (up to about 2300 degrees F), are generally deeper to allow firing of multiple shelves or taller items vessels and such, and usually have no lid elements.
If you are looking to use one kiln for both purposes, what you are probably looking at is starting out with a ceramics kiln that has a controller that supports both Cone and Ramp/Hold firing modes. From there you will want a kiln that has an option to add top firing elements.
Other desirable options would be the ability to control the temperature to the Top and Side firing elements seperate from eachother as well as being able to add or remove stacking rings (for depth) depending if your working with glass items or ceramic.
You will also probably need to maintain seperate shelves for the each type of firing. Glass requires very smooth, non-contaminated firing surfaces where as shelves for ceramics you don't have to be nearly as carefull with.
Many people do use standard ceramic kilns to fire glass so it can be done...but generally there is a lot of trial and error involved in learning the kiln when doing this and doing so in a class room environment would probably pose some real challenges.
If I were you I would contact Paragon or Jen-Ken directly and tell them what you want to do and see if they can get you a kiln that will allow you to do both mediums. Then compare the price of that kiln to the price of two seperate kilns, one for each and go from there.
I mention Paragon and Jen-ken because they both are known to have several custom modifications they can make to their kilns to try and fit them to their intend purpose and they both have product offering very popular both the Glass and Ceramic kiln product line.
There is other info in the archives..so be sure to check them out if you still have questions.
Hope this helps.
-Al
Most glass kilns don't fire higher than 1800 degrees Farinheight which is not hot enough to fire a majority of the ceramic clays/glazes. Additionally they are usually much shallower to allow even heat distribution which is very critical when working with warm glass if you are to get predictable results.
Most ceramic kilns have side firing elements, fire much hotter than glass kilns (up to about 2300 degrees F), are generally deeper to allow firing of multiple shelves or taller items vessels and such, and usually have no lid elements.
If you are looking to use one kiln for both purposes, what you are probably looking at is starting out with a ceramics kiln that has a controller that supports both Cone and Ramp/Hold firing modes. From there you will want a kiln that has an option to add top firing elements.
Other desirable options would be the ability to control the temperature to the Top and Side firing elements seperate from eachother as well as being able to add or remove stacking rings (for depth) depending if your working with glass items or ceramic.
You will also probably need to maintain seperate shelves for the each type of firing. Glass requires very smooth, non-contaminated firing surfaces where as shelves for ceramics you don't have to be nearly as carefull with.
Many people do use standard ceramic kilns to fire glass so it can be done...but generally there is a lot of trial and error involved in learning the kiln when doing this and doing so in a class room environment would probably pose some real challenges.
If I were you I would contact Paragon or Jen-Ken directly and tell them what you want to do and see if they can get you a kiln that will allow you to do both mediums. Then compare the price of that kiln to the price of two seperate kilns, one for each and go from there.
I mention Paragon and Jen-ken because they both are known to have several custom modifications they can make to their kilns to try and fit them to their intend purpose and they both have product offering very popular both the Glass and Ceramic kiln product line.
There is other info in the archives..so be sure to check them out if you still have questions.
Hope this helps.
-Al
Elle....I have a skutt kiln since I am a ceramic artist...I am now doing fused glass in this same kiln...My manual pretty much told me what to do if I decided to do glass...(use the ramp/hold mode)....it has been relatively easy to figure out...It does not have the elements in the top....I have discovered that from the middle shelf up, all of the glass fuses completely....If I load the bottom shelves, they more or less tack fuse...It is kind of neat because I am now realizing by trial and error that I can do both in the same load.....I have done mostly smaller things which you probably would be doing with your class.....If you need more info, email me and I can give you the size kiln and all....I have a pretty big one but not the huge size...I could get about 6-7 giant platters in it at one time...I can do alot of glass at one time....I did not get the envirovent since I can use a wedge and prop mine open till 1000* just fine...the envirovent works great in an indoor setting...the studio I use to work in used that on both of the kilns there.....Let me know if you need additional info...will be glad to discuss ramp schedule with you if you need...CB in N.C. 